The largest paddle board event in the UK, participants started in Dartmouth and paddled 12 km to the finish in Totnes, with over half the fleet taking part for the first time.
Participant ages ranged from 18 to early 70's. The event featured races for all skill levels, from novice to elite, and showcased the beauty and athleticism of SUP boarding.
For the first time in seven years, the annual event was able to run the full course (previous events were altered due to inclement weather) and with the sun out, it made for a fantastic day. The event saw people travelling from all around the country to take part, with paddlers coming from as far as Cumbria, Northumberland and Jersey.
Participant, Alasdair Conn commented: “It's the first time I've paddled that part of the Dart and I'm looking forward to going back and taking my time to explore, it is a beautiful estuary and river.”
This year saw Starboard SUP UK team rider Hector Jessel, 19 years old, win the '14' Men's race fleet' improving on his third place from last year, with local Will Keetley coming in second.
Ginnie Betts, who has raced across Europe, took home first place in the '14' Women's race' having not taken part since 2019.
The Head of the Dart event is not only a great day out for participants and spectators, but also provides a boost to the local economy, with over 60 per cent of participants coming from outside Devon.
Howard Davies, Co-Founder and Director of sponsor, Salcombe Gin said: "It is brilliant to sponsor such a fantastic event year on year, we are always blown away by the amazing support that is shown by those taking part and those coming to watch. The Head of the Dart is a fantastic event that brings people together from all over the country to enjoy the beauty of the River Dart and the excitement of competitive paddle boarding."
John Hibbard, CEO of sponsor, Red Paddle Co added: “It was fantastic to see so many seasoned paddlers and new SUPers out in force for this year's Head of the Dart event.
“It was a perfect day with a vast number of people having the absolute best day out, with the sun shining and an incredibly positive atmosphere. It's great to be able to welcome so many paddle boarders to Red's home turf and experience South Devon in its prime. The Head of the Dart is a very special event with paddlers from all walks of life and experience levels all coming together, encouraging each other to complete the challenge."
For more information visit the event's website at headofthedart.wordpress.com.
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